On top of the World!

5/14/2019

Lumberjack Robotics places fourth in World Competition!

On Saturday, April 27, the Boys' Latin Upper School Robotics Team, Lumberjacks Robotics #2534, stepped onto Ford Field in Detroit, MI for the final round of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) World Championships and walked off with a fourth-place finish! No other team from Baltimore made it to Worlds, and no other team from Maryland advanced to the finals, also known as Einsteins.

The Lumberjacks began their season in early March, competing in the Chesapeake District of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). After three tournaments, they stood in 14th place in district rankings, coming away with two prestigious awards: the Innovation in Control Award (Sponsored by Rockwell Automation) and the Team Spirit Award (Sponsored by FCA Foundation). Most importantly, this ranking earned them a spot in Chesapeake District Competition in Fairfax, VA, where they finished tied for second. This strong finish at Districts resulted in what the boys had worked for all year: an invitation to Worlds in Detroit, MI.

Anchored by seniors Walker Campbell, Andrew Cohen, Myles Davis, Mason Figler, and Sean Lezano, the Lumberjacks headed off to Words to compete against teams from the US, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. World competition started rough for the Lumberjacks; on the first day of competition, they went 1-4 and wondered if their chance to advance was slipping away due to damage to the robot in the first event. However, the Lumberjacks were not to be denied, as, on the second day of competition, they went 5-0. Their stellar second-day performance earned them a selection to the 6th Seed Alliance, which includes three other teams, in the Tesla subdivision of the World Championship. For the first time in BL's twelve-year robotics history, the Lumberjacks were one of only 48 teams still competing for a world title.

The Lumberjacks Alliance competed in the Einstein Competition on the very prestigious Einstein Field and ended the day with an impressive fourth-place finish. This year was one for the record books, as the team ended their season 42-16-1. Despite losing a number of strong seniors, the Lumberjacks are excited for next season as they welcome back a dedicated group of juniors and underclassmen.

About

Founded in 1844, Boys’ Latin School of Maryland is an all-boys private school serving boys in grades K-12. World-class faculty, challenging academics, and character development remain the hallmarks of a Boys’ Latin education. The outcomes speak for themselves, Boys’ Latin graduates attend top colleges and universities and are prepared for the real world and ready to make a difference.